A collection of articles especially for women, based on the inspired Word of God, reflecting one woman's walk of Faith.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Not That Light

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men
through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness
of that Light.” (John 1:6-8)

God, speaking through the Apostle, John, made it
abundantly clear that John the Baptist, great though he might be, was not the
Light; he was simply one who bore witness to the Light. It’s as if God knew
that someone would be tempted to confuse the two. But there is a big difference
between showing someone where the light switch is and wiring a house for
electricity!

I’m well aware that Matthew 5:14-16 teaches, you
and I are also to be lights; but I don’t have to refer to a Greek lexicon, or
notice that the “light” in this passage is not capitalized, to understand that
my light is not the same as that Light,the “Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2).
The fact that my light can be hidden “under a bushel” would tell me that.

Now, before you tune me out for stating the
obvious, let me elaborate a little on something I said in the first paragraph,
the fact that we’re tempted to confuse the two. First, no one can truly
illuminate us on anything. “That was the true Light, which lighteth
every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). If any man or woman possesses
any light at all on actual truth, it is because God, in His grace, has
illuminated him or her. Others may point us to where the truth can be found,
but only God can turn on the internal light bulb.

Second, and the point I especially wanted to make
is this: You and I cannot be anyone else’s light. We can be candles in a
dark place, but we can’t dispel the darkness. Only the sun can do that. If we
could just wrap our minds around this truth, it would eliminate a great deal of
frustration in our lives. I must admit, I’m preaching to myself here. Somehow I
think that my powers of reasoning, my dire predictions, even my tears, can make
someone suddenly “see the light.” The sad part is that these things can quickly
degenerate into mental bullying, ecclesiastical threats, or emotional
blackmail. We can (and should) bear witness to the Light, and acknowledge His
principles of truth; but, beyond that, we cannot illuminate the hearts and
minds of those to whom we bear witness. We cannot be the Light.

Matthew says, “Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.” Did you notice in the
text that people see our light by the things we do, not what we say?
Good works top a good argument every time, especially when God’s glory is the
goal.

So let’s “shine before men,” but always remember, we’re
not the Light, and we will never illuminate even one of them.

Salle J. Sandlin (Mrs. Richard)

A Little About Me

I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. My husband, Richard, and I have been married 52 years. During that time, he pastored two Baptist churches and traveled in evangelism and Bible conference work. We also served as missionaries in Northern Ireland for three years. I was a stay-at-home wife and mother until our four children were grown; then I enrolled in college and majored in English.

I love words. I enjoy trying to put them together in interesting, entertaining, and helpful ways. Most of all, I am intrigued with the possibility of being able to glorify Jesus Christ, the One who is called, “The Word” (John 1). These various articles are the result of my attempt to do that.

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